In-situ damage mechanism investigation and a prediction model for delamination with fibre bridging in composites

Journal article (2023)

Authors

Liaojun Yao Harbin Institute of Technology
J. Liu Harbin Institute of Technology
Zhangming Lyu Harbin Institute of Technology
R.C. Alderliesten Structural Integrity & Composites - Aerospace Engineering
Cui Hao Northwestern Polytechnical University
Chengfang Ren Chinese Academy of Sciences
Licheng Guo Harbin Institute of Technology
Research Group
Structural Integrity & Composites (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 Liaojun Yao, J. Liu, Zhangming Lyu, R.C. Alderliesten, Cui Hao, Chuanxi Ren, Licheng Guo
DOI
help_outline
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2023.109079
Delamination Prediction model Polymer-matrix composites Bridging mechanisms
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

2023

Language

English

Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Structures & Materials

Research Group

Structural Integrity & Composites

Abstract

Carbon-fibre reinforced composites are susceptible to delamination. Fibre bridging is an important shielding mechanism frequently observed in delamination. The presence of these bridging fibres can significantly increase interlaminar resistance, making it critical to represent this phenomenon for delamination characterization in composite laminates. To this end, in-situ SEM examinations were carried out to thoroughly explore damage mechanisms around delamination front as well as in bridging fibres. It was found that micro-cracks initiated at fibre–matrix interface can gradually develop and coalesce into micro-delaminations ahead of the main crack. The accumulation of these micro-delaminations can finally cause macro delamination propagation. The performance of bridging fibres can be summarized as three typical stages, i.e. bending, fibre–matrix peeling and final breakage with crack opening. Subsequently, theoretical discussions on bridging stress distribution were conducted in accordance with these bridging mechanism examinations, contributing to a new traction-separation constitutive to represent fibre bridging performance. A FEA prediction model was finally developed to characterize delamination behavior with fibre bridging. The simulation results can agree well with the experimental data in the entire delamination, demonstrating its effectiveness in fibre-bridged delamination representation. This study also demonstrated the importance of having in-depth understanding on fibre bridging mechanisms to appropriately represent bridging performance during delamination growth in composite laminates.